Touch and technic sto-p for pianos



(Np Model.) I 4Sheets-Sheet 1. A. R.-SPOERL 8v W. L. GEISLER.

TOUGH AND TBGHNIG STOP FOR PIANOS.

No. 593.133. Patented Nov. 2,1897.

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1 Q fJ I WITNE88E8 I an {3/ runs 7 50M azxw/ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet2.

A. R. SPOERL & W. L. GEISLER. TOUGH AND TEGHNIC STOP FOR PIANOS.

No. 593,133. Patented Nov. 2,1897.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. R. SPOERL & W. L. GEISLER. TOUGH AND TEOHNIG STOP FOR 31.3303.

No. 593,133. Patented Nov. 2, 1397.

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' INVENTORS (No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. R. SPOERL 33W. L. GEISLER. TOUGH AND TEGHNIG STOP FOR PIANOS.

No. 593,133. Patented Nov. 2,1397.

' INVENTORS WITNESSES Uivirnn STATES ATFNT @rrinn.

ALFRED R. SPOERL, OF BROOKLYN, AND WILLIAM L. GEISLER, OF HEMPSTEAD, NEWYORK.

TUUCH AND TECHNEC STOP FOR PEANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,133, dated November2,1897.

Applicationflled November 16, 1896- Serial No.612,265. (Nomodeh) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALFRED R. SPOERL, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings, and WILLIAM L. GEisLER, of Hempstead, in the county of Queens,State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Touch and TechnicStop for Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The invention relates to mute attachments for ordinary pianos; and itsobject is to provide a new and improved touch and technic stop forpianos and arranged to enable aperformer to render the piano mute and topermit finger exercise with any degree of resistance to the keys.

The invention consists in a novel construc tion of the mute attachment;further, in a novel construction of the resistance for the keys, and,lastly, in a novel connection of the mute attachment with theresistance, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of the improvement, showing the hammerslocked out of action. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same, showing theresistance out of actionand the hammers released. Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional plan view of the improvement on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig.4: is a cross-section of the same on the line i 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is alike View of part of the same, showing the resistance out of engagementwith the keys. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of theresistance on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a sectional frontelevation of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a sideelevation of the same with parts in a diiferent position and partsbroken out. Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line9 9 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 is a similar View of the same on the line 1010 of Fig. 3.

The upright piano shown in the drawings is provided with the usualcasing A and keys 13, connected at their rear ends by links C withjack-levers O, carrying a jacket 0 engaging the hammers D for throwingthe latter upon the strings E to sound the same in the usual manner. Thehammers D normally rest on a hammer-railD, and the jackdevers C rest attheir forward ends on a rail F, preferably made in the form of athreaded roller, journaled in suitable bearings in arms F, pivoted at Fto a rail of the action, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and at.

The arms F rest on vertically-disposed rods or posts F fitted to slidein suitable hearings in the casing or frame A, and each of the said rodsF carries a forwardly-extending foot F resting at its free end on an armF secured to a laterally-extending shaft G, mounted to turn in suitablebearings formed in a bracket A, attached to the easing A.

The shaft G extends a suitable distance above the rear ends of the keysB, and one end of the shaft G is provided with a downwardly-extendingarm G, connected by a link G with a lever G fulcrumed on thekeyboard-frame and provided with a handle G under the control of theoperator, to permit the latter to swing the lever G transversely andturn the shaft G to cause the feet F to be raised or lowered by theaction of the arms F WVhen the feet F are raised, on throwing the leverG forward in the direction of the arrow a, (see Fig. 4,) then the rods Fare lifted and the arms F, carrying the rail F, are moved upward toswing the jack-levers O upwardly, thereby lifting the links 0 out ofengagement with the rear ends of the keys B and causing the jacks toswing the hammers D into an intermediate position, as in dicated inFig. 1. When the several parts are in this position, the keys B whenpressed do not act on the links 0, and consequently the hammers are notactuated and the piano is rendered mute.

When the lever G is moved in the inverse direction of the arrow to, thenthe feet F move downward as the arms F swing in a downward direction,and consequently the rods F arms F, and rail F move downward to permitthe jack-levers C to swing in a like direction and allow the hammers Dto fall back to their normal resting position on the rail D, asillustrated in'Fig. 2. The links 0 now rest again on the rear ends ofthe keys B, and when the latter are played the hammers are actuated andthe strings are sounded in the usual manner.

\V hen the lever G is moved forward into the position shown in Figs. 1and 4: and the piano is rendered mute, as described, then a resistanceII is thrown in engagement with the keys I and when the lever G is movedin the inverse direction of the arrow a then the said resistance II isthrown out of engagement with the keys at the time the hammers D moveinto an active position, as described above and shown in Fig. 2.

The resistance II is actuated from the shaft G, and the latter isprovided for this purpose with gear-wheels in mesh with segments 1,formed on the frame I, carrying the resistance II. The frame I ismounted to turn loosely on a longitudinally-extending shaft J, journaledin the brackets A, previously mentioned. The frame I is formed withguide-plates l and I one above the other, and carrying rods K, adaptedto rest on the top of the keys B between their pivots and the rear ends,as is plainly indicated in the drawings, it being understood that eachkey is adapted to be engaged by a corresponding rod K. The downwardmovement of each rod K is limited by projections or pins K, adapted tobe seated on the upper guideplate I as is plainly shown in Fig. 7.

The top of each rod K is engaged by a spring L, extending transverselyand secured at one end to a rail I, forming part of the frame I. On thefree end of each spring L is secured a block L, normally resting on aplate N, supported in the frame I, the block being also adapted toengage with its top a second plate N, held vertically adjustable inguideways I, forming part of the frame 1. Suitable screws N engage theplate N to raise or lower the same and permit the spring L to swing moreor less, according to the resistance desired to be given to thecorresponding key B.

It is understood that when a key is pressed at the time the resistanceII is in an active position then the upward swinging of the rear end ofthe key lifts the corresponding rod K, and the latter moves in contactwith the spring L to swing the same upward until the block L strikesagainst the under side of the plate N to limit the further swinging ofthe spring L in this upward direction. More or less tension can be givento the spring L by means of a laterally-extending bar 0, extending overthe springs L and secured at its ends to arms 0, secured by screws 0 toplates P, fitted to slide transversely in suitable gu ideways I formedin the sides of the frame I. (See Figs. 6, 7, and 9.)

Each of the plates 1 is formed at its under side with a rack P in meshwith a gear-wheel P secured on the shaft J, and on one outer end of thisshaft J is secured a gear-wheel Q in mesh with a rack Q, fitted to slidetransversely in suitable bearings formed on the frame A. The rack Q isformed with a forwardly-extending arm (1*, pivotally connected with alever Q, fulcrumed on the keyboard-frame and formed with a handle Q1,adapted to be taken hold of by the operator. The lever Q is providedwith a pointer It, adapted to indicate on a graduation It, held on thekeyboard-frame at one side of the last treble-key, as plainly indicatedin Fig. 23.

Thus it will be seen that when the operator swings the handle Q" of thelever rearwardl y then the gear-wheel is turned by the rack Q in thedirection of the arrow 1), (see Fig. (3,) whereby the shaft 3 is turnedin the same direction and the gear-wheels I are rotated to shift theracks I and conserpiently the plates I backward to move the bar 0 overthe springs L toward their free ends and increase the tension of thesaid springs to give some resistance to the rods K when. the latter aremoved upward upon pressing the corresponding key I The bar 0 can beadjusted up or down by moving its arms 0 correspondingly upon looseningthe set-screws 0 so that the said bar 0 does not engage the springs Luntil some time after the rods K have started on their upward movementupon pressing the keys I5.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangement described any desiredresistance can be given to the rods K to regulate the touch of theoperator pressing the keys. Furthermore, the sliding motion of the saidrods can be limited, if desired, by adjusting the plate h"correspondingly in the guideways I".

The rail I is preferably made vertically adjustable on the sides of theframe I, as indicated in Fig. 10, so as to adjust the springs L relativeto the upper ends of the rods Ii, and the springs L are adjustedvertically relative to the rods K by set-screws L, screwin into thebottom of the rail I against strips L, of leather, felt, or likematerial, and engaging the under side of the sprin between theirfastened ends and the rods K, as plainly shown in Figs. l and O. Thestrips L" render the springs noiseless.

When the lever G is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and .1-, then thehammers I) are in an inactive position and the resistance II is throwninto an active position owing to the turning of the shaft G, aspreviously described, the said shaft by its gear-wheels U imparting aswinging motion to the frame I, since the said gear-wheels engage thesegments I. lVhen the lever G is shifted rearwardly to permit thehammers to fall back into their former resting position, then a swingingmotion is given to the frame I to cause the latter to assume theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 5, whereby the rods Ii are moved out ofengagement with the keys I and the latter when pressed do not touch. thesaid rods, but actuate the hammers in the usual manner. The resistanceII is now out of action and the hammers are in action, and when thelever G is in the position shown in Fig. i then the hammers are thrownout of action and the resistance is thrown into an active position.(Shown in Fig. 4.)

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A device of the class described, providedwith a resistance comprising rods fitted to slide, and adapted to reston the keys, and springs pressing on the said rods, substantially asshown and described.

2. A device of the class described, provided with a resistancecomprising rods fitted to slide, and adapted to rest on the keys,springs ressin on the said rods and means substantially as described,for increasing or decreasing the tension of the said springs, as setforth.

3. A device of the class described, provided with a resistancecomprising rods fitted to slide and adapted to rest on the keys, springspressing on the said rods, and means, substantially as described, forlimiting the swinging motion of the said springs, as set forth.

4. A device of the class described, provided with a resistancecomprising rods fitted to slide and adapted to rest on the keys, andsprings pressing on the said rods, each of the said springs beingprovided at its free end with a block or weight adapted to swing betweentwo plates, one of which is adjustable, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. A device of the class described, provided with aresistance,comprising aframe mounted to swing, and under the control ofthe operator, rods fitted to slide in the said frame and adapted to reston the keys, and springs held on the said frame and engaging the saidrods, each of the springs being provided with a block or weight at itsfree end, substantially as shown and described.

6. A device of the class described, provided with a resistance,comprising a frame mounted to swing, and under the control of theoperator, rods fitted to slide in the said frame and adapted to rest onthe keys, springs held on the said frame and engaging the said rods,each of the springs being provided with a block or weight at its freeend, and a bar adj ustaloly held over the said springs for regulatingthe tension of the springs, substantially as shown and described.

7. A device of the class described, provided with a resistance,comprising a frame mounted to swing, and under the control of theoperator, rods fitted to slide in the said frame and adapted to rest onthe keys, springs held on the said frame and engaging the said rods,each of the springs being provided with a block or weight at its freeend, a bar adjustably held over said springs for regulating the tensionof the springs, and means, substantially as described, for adjustingsaid bar over the said springs, as set forth.

8. A device of the class described, provided with a resistancecomprising a frame, rods fitted to slide in the said frame, springspressing on the said rods, a bar adjustably held over the said springs,means for shifting the said bar, and a device for indicating theposition of the bar relatively to the springs, as set forth.

9. A device of the class described, provided with a rock-shaft under thecontrol of the operator and carrying arms, posts fitted to slidevertically and provided with feet engaging the said arms, hinged armsconnected with the said posts, and a rail carried by the said hingedarms and adapted to engage jack-levers, substantially as shown anddescribed.

ALFRED R. SPOERL. WILLIAM L. GEISLER. WVitnesses:

THEo. G. HOSTER, JAMES M. HENLEY.

